Cord support for electric flatirons



Mach 194% e. BROWNING 3,67

CORD SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS Filed June 28, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 amh 1, @946. G. BROWNING CORD SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS Filed Julie 28, 1944 3 sheets sheet 2 21%,. G. BRQWNENG 2,396,6?6

CQ RD SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS I v Filed June 28, 19-44 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT FHCE 2,396,676 V com) SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC FLATIRONS George Browning, Wilmette, Ill. Application June 28, 1944, Serial No. 542,483

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cord supports for electrio fiatirons.

It is common practice to attach a current supply cord to a flatiron, either permanently or through means of a plug connector, with the resuit that the cord is pulled back and forth with the iron as thelatter is moved in the ironing operations and drags on the ironing board or the clothes being ironed and to some degree interferes with free manipulation of the iron, or at least it requires some attention on the part of the operator to keep the trailing cord from interferring with the iron or the material being ironed. Where the iron is used frequently and given hard use this dragging of the cord causes the protective covering on the cord to become worn and frayed and liable to short circuiting. Many efforts have been made to meet this problem, including the provision of cord holders including the reel type wherein the slack cord is automatically wound on a reel and the overhead type in which the lever or supporting means is applied on top of the ironing board so as to support the cord from a high position, and other types in which the cord is supported from a wall or nearby structure remote from the ironing board. These devices, however, are not satisfactory, some of the objections being that they are not universally applicable because they depend on structures re,- mote from the ironing board, or that their application and type of ironing board interferes with or restricts the ironing operations, or that they inherently cause additional wear on the cord, or that they involve too high cost of manufacture.

The main object of the present invention is to devise new and improved means as a solution of this problem characterized by the provision of a relatively long rod or lever arm pivotally supported at its lower end to swing about a pivot located substantially below the ironing board and preferably attached to the board or its supporting structure so as to be directly associated therewith and arranged so that the upper end of the lever arm swings in a long are above the ironing board in a plane spaced beyond itsrear longitudinal edge and parallel therewith sothat the cord which is attached to the upper end of this arm will be definitely held away from the ironing board. According to my invention the cord supporting arm is so mounted and arranged as not to interfere with the full use of the top of the ironing board in the spreading and handling of work to be ironed and the cord is so supported that it does not drag on the board or the clothes during the ironing operation.

Another object is to provide .a cord support of the character described constructed so that it canbe readily applied to the leg structure which supports the ironing board proper and which is adapted for universal application.

Another object is to provide a cord support of the character described which may be applied as a permanent attachment to an ironing board, or so incorporated in the structure thereof as to be permanently associated therewith and adapted to be folded into and out of a compact association with the board proper for convenience in storing the board when itis not in use.

Anothervobject is to provide a cord support of the character described which is a portable unit independently supported and which may be applied in coaction with the ironing board to obtain the described functional operation.

Another object is to provide several pecies of cord supports operating on the principle above described and capable of manufacture at a coniparatively low cost.

Other objects and attendantadvantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference tothe following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: p,

Figure 1 is a top viewof an ironing board equipped with a cord support embodying my invention; v I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 2a is a side view of the upper end portion of the lever arm showing the cord attachment clips; v

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are enlarged detail views showing, respectively, a side elevation of the cord support, a rear view of the attachment portion which attaches to' one of the legs of the ironing board, and a top view of this attachment portion;

' Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an ironing board having applied thereto a cord support embodying a modified form of the invention;

Fig, 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of this modified form, showing the parts in the folded condition for storage;

. Fi-g. '8Zis a fragmentary side elevation of the hinged end of the cord support of this modified form of the same sketch as Fig. '7; a

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of anothermodification of the invention;

Fig. 9a isa side view of the upper end portion of the lever arm shown in this modification;

Fig. 10 is. an enlarged section taken on the section line Ill-.40 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the section line ll-Il of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 12 is an end view of this modification, looking at the right hand end of Fig. 11.

In the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 to inclusive the device is designed for attachment to the supporting structure of an ironing board 9. In this instance the device rests on the floor when in the operative position and is attached to one of the rear supporting legs III for the purpose of locating and retaining the device in the desired operative relation to the ironing board. The characteristic feature of this device is a relatively long rod or lever arm" ll pivotally mounted at a low point I2 with reupper end portion l3 extending substantially ture is made to accommodate leg structures of diiferent sizes and angles so that the pivot support l2 may be set at the desired relation to the ironing board 8. It will be observed that the spring It connects between the base member 19 and the lever arm I! to constantly urge the lever arm toward a rear position, thus keeping taut the cord between the iron and the lever arm as above described. However, rearward movement of the lever arm is limited by suitable means suchv as a stop member 28 coacting between the base member and the lever arm, as will be obvious. This device may be folded into compact relation with the ironing board when the legs of the board are folded. In this condition the bracket 22 remains fastened to the leg it, the

above the ironing board. The lever arm H is so mounted and arranged that it swings in an upright plane substantially parallel with and spaced from the rear edge of the ironing board so as to allow .free space for materials being ironed in the event such materials or articles overhang the rear of the ironing board. The current supply cord I4 of an electric flatiron I5 is attached to the upper end of the lever arm portion [3 substantially in the manner shown in the drawings so that as the iron is moved lengthwise along the board the lever arm will follow this lengthwise movement of the iron. For example, when the iron is moved toward the narrow end of the board the lever arm will be pulled forwardly by reason of the connecting cord, and when the iron is moved toward the wide end of the board the lever arm will be swung in the same direction under the influence of suitable means such as a contractile spring IE, or the equivalent, thus keeping taut the cord between the fiatiron and the lever arm. Any suitable means of attachment may be provided between the cord and lever arm preferably with provision for quick attachment and adjustment of the cord. A simple means for this purpose is a spring clip I! attached to the upper end of the lever arm at the side adjacent to the ironing board and a second spring clip l8 attached to the lever arm at the side thereof opposite from the clip I! and at a point beneath the ironing board, substantially as shown in Figure '2. With this arrangement it will be seen that the cord may be quickly and easily passed under the spring clip IT at the front of the lever arm and then passed downwardly to the rear of the lever arm and engaged under the lower, spring clip l8, and from there it may be extended to a suitable plug connector at the rear of the ironing board. The spring clips serve to fasten the cord tothe lever arm with sufiicient firmness to prevent displacement of the cord during usage and to yieldingly retain the cord so that it may be readily adjusted manually by the operator to shorten or lengthen the reach of the cord between the lever arm and the iron to suit the convenience of the operator.

In this embodiment the lever arm is pivotally mounted at l2 on a base member l9 which in turn is pivotally connected at 2| to a bracket 22 which is attached to the leg In above mentioned. In this case the attachment of the bracket'22 to the leg is by means of clamping screws 23 and 24 adapted to clamp opposite sides of the leg and an upper bracket 25 connectedto the lower bracket by a member 26 andhaving a plurality of clamping screws 21 for clamping opposite sides of the leg. This bracket strucbase member 19 folds in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 2 about the pivot connection 2! into parallel relation to the leg is, and after uniastening the stop link 28, either from the lever arm or-the base member, the lever arm may be folded in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot l2 into a generally parallel relation with the ironing board and the associated base member and board legs.

In Figures Gto 8 is shown a modified form ofthe invention in which a long lever arm 3! corresponding with the lever arm ii is pivotally mounted on a supporting member 32 which in turn is mounted on the ironing board 9 on the underside thereof so as not to interfere with the clothes or material being ironed. In this instance the member 32 is in the form of a metal rod having an end portion 33 turned laterally to provide a pivot portion mounted in a bracket 34 which is suitably attached to the underside of the ironing board adjacent to the wide end thereof. This bracket has a depending portion which provides a socket 0r seat 35 in which the member 32 restswhen in the operative position shownin Figure 6. The lower end portion of the'supporting member 32 is turned outwardly at 36 and then inwardly to provide a pivot portion 31*parallel with the pivot portion 33. The lever arm 3i is fixed to a sleeve 38 which receives the pivot portions! and is adapted for pivotal movementtherein. A coil spring 39 acting between the rod portion 36 and the lever arm 3! constantly urges the latter in a counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 6, thus tending to swing the lever arm 3! to a position against theportion 38 of the supporting member, which position is substantially parallel with said supporting member. This spring 39 serves the same purpose as the spring id in the form first above described. Likewise in this case the lever arm 3| is equipped with cord attachment means similar'to the spring clips ii and 18. In this modifiedform the operation of the cord support is substantially the same as in the first described embodiment.

It will'be observed that in this modified form the cord supporting lever arm swings from a relatively low position, that is, a position substantially below the ironing board, but its pivot support is adapted to be swung upwardly by swinging movement of the supporting member 32 to a position substantially coplanar with the ironing board. This position is limited by the member L32striking against the stop ll extending laterally from the bracket 34. It will now be noted that the pivot portion 37 is extended inwardly ,to-provide an" end portion 42 which normallyis springing therod 32 top of the ironing board by outwardly so that the end 42' may clear-the edge of the board and then-spring back intoerigagement with the top of the board. In this manner the rod 32 is locked inthe upperor-foldd position between the stop 4| and thetop-surface' of the board,'substantially parallel with'the board. Thus, when the supporting structure is folded against the board and the'described cord support is also folded, the board and its attached parts are in a compact form occupying buta'small space for storage. Thispermanent-attachment of the long lever cord support to aboard is advantageous because it facilitatesthesettihg-up of the cord support; The cord supportis incorporated in the ironing board structureandbecomes an auxiliary -part'thereof.--

In Figures 9 to 12 inclusive I have shown another modification of myinvention. In this embodiment the cord supporting lever arm is pivotally supported onabase structure which is portable and independent of the ironing board but adapted to be brought into coaction there'- with for the purpose of maintainingfthe desired operative relation between ironing board. In this instance the supporting arm designated generally by 43 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a portable base designated generally by 44 which rests on the floor. This base is designed to be inserted beneath one of the legs of the ironing board. This aids in holding the base and consequently the lever arm in the desired cooperative relation with the ironing board. This base may be of any suitable or desired construction for the purpose intended. In the illustrative form it is of sheet metal having a bottom 45 and upturned sides 45, transverse wall 41, and stop member 43. Suitable means such as a rubber or felt piece to the underside of the bottom 45 to provide a more secure engagement with the floor and as an aid in preventing displacement of the base from its operative relation to the ironing board. The rear portion of the base is of substantial area to provide for receiving a rear leg 52 of the ironing board to maintain the desired relation between the cord supporting lever arm and the board. By reason of t 's substantial area the base member may be suitably located to accommodate ironing boards in which the rear leg location may vary. I prefer to mount the lever arm on a pivot bolt 53 which is engaged in slots 54 in the side walls 46 and held against rotation therein. The lever arm is. constantly urged to swing its upper end rearwardly by pivotal movement on the bolt 53, by means of a coil spring designated generally by 50. This spring has two coil portions on the bolt, hooked end portions 55 engaged in openings in the side walls 46, and a central loop portion 56 engaged around the lever arm 43 in a manner to exert constant yielding pressure against the lever arm to swing it rearwardly to maintain the iron cord taut, for the purpose above described. The rearward position of the lever arm will be limited by the stop 48 or any suitable means for this purpose. This construction is economical and permits of quick and easy assembly and disassembly. In this embodiment I have shown the lever arm constructed of a plurality of sections such as a lower section 51 and an upper section 58 detachably connected one to the other by suitable means. In this instance lever arm sections are connected by a center dowel pin 59 and a tongue and groove connection 6|. Instead of using a clip for the cord the lever arm and the 49 may be applied spaced rearwardly from connection at the upper end of the lever arm I have slotted the lever arm as at 62 to provide a yielding socket grip for the iron cord. I prefer to further attach the cord to the lever arm at a lower point as by means of the spring clip 63 as in the above described embodiments.

One of the features of my invention is the relatively-long lever arm which provides the cord support and is so pivotally mounted at a point substantially below the ironing board that its upper end which projects substantiallyabove the board and carries the attached'iron cord may swing in a long low are so as to accommodate movement of the iron from end to end of the ironing board. Another feature is the arrangement of this long lever arm to swing in a path the ironing board and support the cord so that it does not drag or rub across the rear edge of the board. Another advantage of this construction and arrangement is that the entire top surface of the ironing board is unobstructed and fully accessible for ironing. Another advantage is that when ironing flat material and the like it may overhang the back edge of the board from end to end thereof because the lever arm swings in a path spaced well to the rear of the board.

While I have shown several embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details of construction since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A cord support for an electric flatiron com prising, in combination with an ironing board, a relatively long lever arm, means associated with the ironing board for pivotally supporting the lever arm in predetermined working relation to the ironing board, said means being constructed and arranged to pivotally support the lever arm to swing about a pivot axis located at its lower end at a point substantially below the ironing board and intermediate the ends thereof and in such relation thereto that the upper end of the lever arm swings in a relatively long horizontal are above the board in an upright plane spaced rearwardly from and substantially parallel with the rear edge of the board, means for attaching the iron cord to the upper end of the lever arm, and means constantly urging the lever arm toward one end of the board and so limiting such movement that the upper end of the lever arm is normally disposed adjacent to said end of the board, whereby the upper end of the lever arm, is adapted to swing in said relatively long horizontal are against the force of the last-named means and said means serves to return the lever arm to said normal position when pull on the cord is released.

2. A cord support as set forth in claim 1, in which the pivot support for the lever arm is carried on the lower end of a supporting lever which lever in turn is pivotally supported at its upper end on a bracket attached to the ironing board.

3. A cord support as set forth in claim 1, in which the pivot support for the lever arm is carried on the lower end of a supporting lever which lever in turn is pivotally mounted at its upper end on the ironing board, said supporting lever being arranged to swing upwardly from its normal operative position to a folded position substantially parallel with the ironing board, and said lever arm being arranged to swing downboard providing wardly on said supporting lever to a folded position'substantially parallel therewith;

,4. A cord support as set forth in claim 1; in which the first described means comprises'a base unit forsupporting the lever arm on the floor and whichvis constructed to receive one of the legs'of the ironing board for maintaining the base and consequently the cord supporting lever arm in the described relation to the ironing board.

"5. A cord support for an electric flatiron comprising, in combination with an ironing board, a lever arm having a pivot end and a cord supporting end, means associated with the ironing a pivot support for the pivot end of the lever arm at a relatively low p'oint beneath the ironing board intermediate the ends thereof, said pivot support arranged so that the cord supporting end of the lever arm is adapted to swing in a vertical plane parallel with the back longitudinal edge of the ironing board and spaced rearwardly therefrom, means yieldingly urging the cord supporting end of the lever arm toward the wide end of the board, a stop for limiting such movement when the cord supporting end ofthe leverarm is disposed adjacent to said wide end of the board, means for detachablyconnecting the flatiron cord to said cord supporting end of the lever armso that the lever arm will beswung in said plane against the tensicnor said means when moved along the ironing board in a direction oppwite from the acting force of said means, the lever armbeing of such length that its cord supporting end is located at a substantial elevation above the ironing board when in a vertical position and swings in a largehorizontally extending arc in said plane spaced from the rear longitudinal edge of the ironing board. I

6. A cord support as set forth in claim 5, in which the first described means comprisesa base unit for supporting the lever arm on the door and which is constructed to receive one of the legs of the ironing board for maintaining thebase and consequently the cord supporting lever arm in the described relation to the ironing board, and in which the lever arm swings about a pivot pin mounted on said base and the yielding means comprises a coil spring having coil portions on the pivot pin at opposite sides of the lever arm, end portions connected to the base, and a center portion engaging the lever arm to yieldingly urge it toward the wide end of the board.

' GEORGE BROWNING.-. 

